Wires



July 18, 1944. J. R. McMAHON ET AL Re. 22,518

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PROTECTIVE COATINGS T SUSPENDED WIRES, CABLES, PIPES, AND THE LIKE Original Filed Dec. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1?. X7 X7 5 5 13 6 5: T m 641M173 7 25 72 11 ZZZ I 4 A v. in 74 60 Z A: 9 a 3 Z 6 P Z 4 H I 75 z 75 4 ll E ;\l 5 77 I 32 77 32 9 jg 44 35 y 24; 51 3 if 31 1 L 1x I 44 l ii 44 l; 17

| m E 1 4 x 49 75 44 32 w 93 mm H 7 14 W i n 16 as 94 i: i 'm 41 43 1'6 I 41 P\\\ 'IF' f 42 ,.77 95 77 76 v' r 7 z I 7 -|N\/ENTOF?5 /l/l AT OHNEY July 18, 1944. J. R. MGMAHON -r Re. 22,518

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PROTECTIVE commas TO SUSPENDED WIRES, CABLES, PIPES, AND THE LIKE Original Filed Dec. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnlnEmmlgumg INVENTOEE JOSEPH F1. MMAH0N 30 [in 000 C5PR/N6F/ELD ATTORNEY I Reissued July 18, 1944 UNl'lED STATES FATE-NT- OFFICE r sans APPARATUS FOR APPLYING rao'mcrrvs COATINGS T SUSPENDED WIRES, CA- BLES, PIPES, AND THE LIKE Joseph 1!. McMahon and Elwood-C, Springfield,

' Glendale, W. Va.

Original No. 2,264,048, dated November 25-, 1941.

Serial No. 308,340, December 9,

1939. Alipllflation for reissue May 13, 1942, Serial No. 442,862

Claims.

wires and cables suspended between adjacent supporting poles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such an apparatus which is self-propelled along the messenger wire and cable during the coating operation and which may be controlled by a workman or workmen located on the ground below the wire and cable being coated. t

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character referred to which will economically and effectively coat or paint the wire and cable with substantially no loss of paint or other protective coating material being applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will coat the wire and cable on all exposed. areas including that section of the Figure 9 is a detail view of the mechanism for telescoping the depending standard, parts being omitted and other parts being shown in vertical section;

Figure 10 is a detail view illustrating a modified driving means for propelling the apparatus:

Figure 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken on line I l-ll of Figure 10;

wire and cable which are attached to a supporting on supporting poles at different heights from the ground.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and the combination of parts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-,-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the appsratus suspended in operating position from a section of messenger wire;

Figure 2 is an end elevatlonal view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 3-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail plan view of the drip pan as viewed on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '1 is a detail view in top plan of the spraying nozzle; I

Figure 8 is an end view of the spraying nozzle,

Figure 12 is a detail view illustrating the driving gears for actuating the mechanism shown in Figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a detail view of a fragmentary section of the pipe associated with the spraying nozzle, parts being shown in vertical section.

Referring tosaid drawings, the apparatus comprises a frame consisting of vertical members l, horizontal members I, and angular braces 3, this entire structure being integrally formed. The vertical members have their upper extrem ities bent upon themselves to form inverted U-shaped ends 5 and 4, respectively. The U- shaped end I has iournaled therein a shaft 4 to which is fastened a trolley wheel I. The shaft 4 also carries sprocket wheels 8 and S. A trolley wheel HI is fixed to a shaft ll iournaled in the U-shaped end I and, said shaft II also has fixed thereto a sprocket wheel (not shown). A sprocket chain it [connects the last mentioned sprocketwheel with the sprocket wheel I.

Located in the frame structure is a rectangular plate l4 which is also formed integrally with the frame.- A pin It extends through the rectangular plate l4 and supports a complemental plate It fastened to the upper end of a depending stud ll. The pin l5 extends through registering apertures provided in the plates 14 and l6, said plates being held together by a nut is threaded on the pin 15, a collar l9 being interposed between the nut l8 and the outer surface of the plate IS. The pin 15 extends beyond the nut, l8 and has its diameter reduced to form a spindle 20 upon which is freely rotatable a one-piece casting forming dual sprocket wheels II and 22. A sprocket chain 23 connects the sprocket'wheels 2i and I. Fastened to the stud I! is the upper end of a tube 24 in which latter is telescopable a tube 25 of smaller diameter. The tubes 24 and 25 are maintained interiorly of the tube II; rope orcable Is is attached to the eye as and extends downwardly interiorly of the tubes 24 and I! and has its lower end attached to and wound about a winch ll borne by the frame I! and adapted to be rotatedby a hand crank (not shown). when it is desired to adlust the space between the upper frame and lower frame II. the set screw 28 is retracted and the cable or rope I! wound or unwound on or from the winch 3| to cause the tubes It and II to telescope to raise or lower the frame :1.

A pair of guy wires Ii have their upper ends attached to the plate It and have their lower ends attached to and wound about the winch II. A second pair of guyvwires I! have their upper ends The upper end of a shield, II is fastened to the tube II, while another metal shield II is fastened to the'tubing I5.

attached to the tube It and have their lower ends makes it possible to-take up the slack in the guy wires as the lower frame 21 is raised or lowered.

A tank ll. is carried by the frame I] to serve a A length of tubing 02 depends from the T II and is appropriately bent so as to extend downwardly and forwardly. A T-shaped nozzle fitting 88 is threaded to the lower end of the tubing 12 so as to directly overlie the messenger wire 82 and cable 88. A slot 64 is provided in the lower surface of the nozzle 83 to serve as a discharge port.

Extending outwardly from the boss 46 is a bracket 66 having a clevis formed in its free end. Received in the clevis isa trunnion 81 which encircles a pin 88, the latter having one end thereof pivotally received on a stub pin 88 formed on the underside of the pipe ll. Located on opposite sides of the trunnion :1 are oppositely disposed compression springs Ill maintained in position by nuts H. the asserted force of each of the springs 10 being equal so as to normally maintain the pipe 4! in the position shown in the drawings.

Embracing one of the upright members I of the upper frame and'freely rotatable thereon is a a reservoir for the coatingmaterial. A suitable power unit I! (which may be operated either electrically or by an internal combustion engine) is also supported upon the frame 21. Power from the unit 31 is transmitted to a pump '38 by a belt I. A belt I connects-the rotor of the pump It to a pulley ll carried by a shaft 42. The shaft 42 has fixed thereto a smaller sprocket wheel I! which is connected to the sprocket wheel 22 by a sprocket chain 44. An idler sprocket wheel I! is laterally movable in a slot provided in a bracket ll attached to the frame 21 and the idler sprocket wheel ll meshes with the sprocket chain 44. The idler sprocket wheel 45 may be adjusted in its slot in the bracket is so as to afford tension on thesprocket chain 44 regardless of the position of the lower frame 21 with respect to the upper frame. 1

A boss 46 is formed on the upper surface of the U-shaped end I of the upper frame, said boss having a recess formed in its surface to embrace a stub pivot-.pin 41 provided on the under surface of a section of pipe 48. A T ill is provided on the end of a section of the pipe II, the connection between the pipe is and T Ill being such that the T is freely rotatable without chance of leakage. An L-li is connected to one side of the T ill, this connection also being a loose one so as to permit rotation of the L in the T without chance of leakage. Threaded in the L BI and depending downwardly therefrom is a length oftubing 52, the lower end of which is closed on an angle, as shown at B8. The inner face of the tubing 52 is provided with a series of vertically aligned discharge ports 84. A discharge port 55 is also provided in the lower end of the tubing 52.

Connected to the opposite end of the T to is an L It, in which is threaded a nipple 51, to which latter is connected an elbow it. A section of tubbracket 12 which supports a drip pan 13 disposed beneath and in vertical alignment with the spraying nozzle hereinbefore referred to. Extending outwardly from the other upright member i of the upper frame is an upwardly inclined race N which is designed to underlie and afford support to the bracket 1! in the vicinity of the drip pan II. A suitable conductor "leads from the drip pan ll into the top of the tank 38.

A conductor line 16 leads from the bottom of the tank 36 to the pump 38, and another conductor line 11 leads upwardly from the pump as to a T It. A section of flexible tubing is conn'ects the T 18 to the pipe 48. An appropriate valve 80 is provided in the conductor It so that the supply of the protective coating material may be controlled from the tank 36. An appropriate fitting II is provided in the conductor 'Il so that,

wire 82 so that the entire apparatus is freely suspended and depends from the wire 82. In this position, the oppositely disposed tubes 52 and us of the spraying nozzle occupy positions on the opposite sides of the messenger wire 82 and the 1 messenger cable 83, which latter is suspended,v as usual, from the former by wire clips 81.

Actuation of the power unit 31 results in power being transmitted to the trolley wheels 1 and it through belt 39, belt 40, sprocket chains ll, 23, and it. Such actuation positively drives the trolley wheels I and ll so that the entire appaing is is threaded in the elbow SI and said tubing depends therefrom. The lower end of the tubing II is closed, as shown in Figure 8, and the inner on the nipple without chance of leakage. A metal ratus is propelled on and along the messenger wire a: in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure l.

Actuation of the power unit- 31, as aforesaid operates, through the belt I9, the pump I8. Such operation of the pump 38 results in an amount of the liquid or semi-liquid protective coating being continuously pumped from the tank 38 through the conductors I8 and 11, as well as through the flexible coupling 19, to the pipe II. From the pipe 48 the liquid coating is delivered under pressure to the. spraying nozzles 52, 59. and 63 through the T 50 and is discharged therefrom through the ports 54 and 84 and a portion of the discharged coating'is impinged against the wire 82 and cable 83. The oppositely disposed shields 60 and II confine thedischarged coating to that .the outwardly extending race 14.

area vertically coinciding with the width of the drip pan II so that the coating which falls to be impinged on the said wire and cable may gravitate into the drip pan l9 and be drained back into the tank 99 through the drain conductor II. It will be noted that all exposed areas of the wire 92, cable It and. clips 94 will be coated on all exposed areas.

When the apparatus in its travel approaches a supporting pole 95 where the messenger wire 92 is attached to and supported by the pole by a clamp 99, the apparatus is propelled to a point where the forward portion of the upper frame contacts the pole 95 or its clamp 99. The ground crew then lifts or maneuvers the apparatus so that the forward trolley wheel I9 is placed on the wire 92 at the opposite side of the pole 85 and its clamp 99. The apparatus then continues its forward travel and coating operation until the rear trolley wheel I contacts the pole B or its clamp 99, at which time the ground crew elevates the rear portion of the upper frame so as to lift the trolley wheel I over the clamp 86 at the opposite side of the pole. Forward travel of the apparatus is continued. When the spraying nozzle contacts the pole 95, as illustrated in detail in Figure 7 of the drawings, the L M engages the pole so that the tube '52 of the spraying nozzle is rotated in an arc of a circle from a vertical to a substantially horizontal position because of the provision of the loose connection between the L 5| and T 50. At the same time the T 5ll,because of the loose connection between it and the pipe 49, is rotated on the pipe 99 so that the L 5i is elevated and the L 56 is lowered. During this action, however, the tube 59 of the spraying noz-' zle is maintained in a suspended vertical position because of the loose connection between the elbow 59 and the nipple 51. Obviously, this action swings the depending tube 52 upwardly in such a manner that it will not become wedged between the cableand the poleas the apparatus is propelled forwardly. At, the same time, however, it will be observed that the wire and cable surface adjacent the pole will be adequately coated because the coating fluid is continuously being discharged through the ports 59 while this action is taking place. The coating liquid is also discharged through the lowerport 55 so that the coating is applied between the pole and cable during that time that the nozzle is passing this section of the cable.

At the same time that the spraying nozzle elements are being rotated, as aforesaid, the pipe 49 and the spraying nozzle is being moved outwardly away from the pole 85 as a unit about the pivot 41 against the tension of the outer spring "exerted on the trunnion 51. After the L 5| clears the pole, the outer spring Hi forces the trunnion 91 inwardly to restore the spraying nozzle and pipe 49 to their normal positions.

At the same time that the L 5i engages the pole 95 to force the spraying nozzle and pipe 48 outwardly, the rounded forward end of the drip pan II also engages the circular surface of the pole 95 so that, during forward travel of the apparatus, the drip pan I3 is also swung outwardly about its pivotal point on the upper frame memher I so that the drip pan 13 at all times underlies the spraying nozzle to receive the drainage therefrom. During the outward swinging movement of the drip pan 13 the frame 12 rides over After the pan has cleared the pole, the same is returned to normai position by reason of the inwardly inclined surfaceof the race 14. s

A bracket 91 is attached to the pipe 99 and extends forwardly to overlie the T It and has fixed thereto a'downwardly and angularly disposed limit stop 99, the bottom end of which is normally maintained in contacting relation with the T 59 by means of a. retractile coil spring 99 which has one end attached to the L 59 andhas its opposite end attached to the bracket I1. Rotation of the spraying nozzle with respect to the pipe 49 is achieved against the tension exerted by the spring 99. After the spraying nozzle clears the pole, the nozzle is returned to its normal position by the spring 99, the stop 99 limiting the rotation so that it will cease when the nozzle occupies normal position.

As hereinbefore pointed out, the lower frame 21 is suspended from the upper frame by the telescoping standard 24 and 25, the tube 24 being fastened to the stud I! of the plate I9, the plate It being supported on the pin II. A latch mechanism is provided to prevent the lower frame 21 from freely swinging in a pendulum-like manner on its supporting pin I. As shown in Figure 4, this latch mechanism consists of an L-shaped lever 99 which is pivotally mounted to a bracket 9| attached to the plate It. A pin 92 is provided I on the upper end of the lever 99 and is adapted tion substantially at the center of gravity. when,

however, the apparatus is traveling along an inclined cable, the pin 92 may be withdrawn from the registering apertures 93 by pulling the rope 95 downwardly so that the suspending mechanism is free to seek its own center of gravity to compensate for the angle of angularity of the inclined cable line.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, two additional apertures 99 and 93' are provided in the plate I4, one such aperture being disposed at a spaced arcuate distance at each side of the central aperture 99 of the plate It. When the forward position of the apparatus contacts a pole 85, as hereln'before described, the pin 92 may be withdrawn from the registering apertures 93 and the suspended mechanism slightly. swung rearwardly on its pivot pin l5 to a point wherethe pin 92 engages the aperture 93-. This obviously alters the center of gravity of the suspended mechanism so that the larger portion of the weight is borne by the rear trolley wheel 1'. Thus. the ground crew may readily elevate the weight-relieved forward trolley wheel 10 off the messenger wire 92 and thereby conveniently maneuver the forward part of the. apparatus around to the 0P posite side of the pole 95. Following this, the pin 92 is disengaged from the aperture 93 and the suspended mechanism swings by gravitation to a point where the pin 92 may again engage the aperture 93 of the plate It. The apparatus then continues its forward travel and coating operation until such time as it becomes necessary to place the rear trolley Wheel I on the opposite side of the pole. At this point the pin 92 may be withsuspended mechanism a the drawings.

drawnfrcrn registering apertures and the engages the aperture 00". This alters the center of gravity of the suspended mechanism so that the larger portion of the weight is now borne by the forward trolley wheel I0. Consequently, the ground crew may readily elevate the weight relieved rear trolley wheel 1 oil the messenger wire II and thereby easily maneuver the rear part of the apparatus around to the opposite side of the pole 00. Following this, the pin 02 is disengaged from the aperture 00 and the suspended mechanism swings by gravitation to a point where the wire 01 and cable 00.

A modified form of means of propelling the apparatus is illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 of When this latter is utilized, the belt 40 drives the pulley H which is attached to a stub,shaft I00 iournaled in the lower frame 21.

Mounted on the inner end of the stub shaft I0 l is a bevel gear III which meshes with one of a pair of bevel gears I02 borne by a shaft I03, which latter has its opposite ends iournaled in the frame 21. A U-shaped plate I is fixed to the frame. 11 and has a longitudinally extending slot I00 located intermediate its ends. Received in the slot I0! is the circular end I06 of a vertically extending, telescoping, hexagonal drive shaft III. A bearing plate I00 also accommodates the circuiar end of the shaft I00; the plate I00 being attached to the U-shaped plate I by a machine screw I00 which passes through a slot IIO provided in the bearing plate I00.

The upper end of the. shaft I01 is journaled in a bearing provided in an L-shaped bracket II I which is fixed to theplate It. A bevel gear III is carried by the upper end ofthe shaft I01 and meshes with a bevel gear III borne by a stub shaft I I4 iournaled in the bracket I I I. A sprocket wheel II! is carried by the stub shaft Ill and is connected to the sprocket 0 by means of a sprocket chain IIO. A bevel gear III is fixed to the lower end of the shaft I01 and meshes with one or the other of the pair of bevel gears, I02, as will hereinafterbefullydescribed.

when the latter modified driving means'is utilized, power furnished to the pulley ii is transmitted to the shaft I0l through the bevel gear Ill and one of the bevel gears I02.and bevel gear Ill. The power is transmitted from the shaft IIilthrough the bevel gears III and III to the sprocket wheel III and chain H0 for rotatin and driving the trolley wheels I and I0 in one direction.

When it is desired to reverse the direction of travel of the apparatus along the wire or rope, the machine screw I00 is retracted and the bearing plate I00 moved longitudinally so as to'bring the bevel gear III out of contact with the one gear and mesh the same with the other gear of the pair I02 after which the screw is again tightened. when operated aftermaking this change. the direction of rotation of the gear Ill and shaft I01 will be reversed from that above described to reverse the-direction of travel of the apparatus along the wire or rope.

What isclaimed is: y

1. In apparatus for applying a protective coatslightly swung forwardly, on the pivot pin "to a point where the pin 02,

havin therein sane ingtosulpended cablelinesbornebysplcedsurporting poles comprising trolley wheels adap tobepropelledalongthelinebyapowerplant, connected to said trolley wheels and borne by a 5 frame suspended from said trolley wheels, a.

reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, a conductor line from said reser voir to a spraying nomle normally aligned with the cable line, the section of said conductor line to which the nozzle is attached being Mvotally connected to the frame so as to be adapted, along with the nozzle, to be moved, transversely with respect to the cable line when the spraying nozzle contacts and is passing an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the line. j

2. In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adapted to be propelled along the line by a power plant connected to said trolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley wheels, a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir to a spraying nozzle normally aligned with the cable line, the section of said conductor line to which the nozzle is attached being pivotally connected to the frame so as to be adapted, along with the nozzle, to be moved transversely with i'spect to the cable line when the spraying nozale 1 contacts and is passing an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the line, a drip pan pivotally connected to said frame anddisq posed beneath the spraying nozzle and adapted to be moved transversely about its pivot along with the spraying nozzle when said drip pan con-' I tacts and is passing said obstructing, pole.

3. In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adapted to be'propelled along the line by a power plant connected to said trolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley'wheels, a reservoirf containing the coating material, borne by.

said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir 4 to a substantially U-shaped spraying nozzle disposed about said line, one of the perpendicularly disposed legs of the nozzle being pivotally connected to the yoke of the nozzle so as to be adapted to be forced from its normal perpendicuiar position when said leg frlctionally engages and passes an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the cable line.

4. In apparatus for applying a protective coatingto suspended cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adapted to be propelled along the line by a power plant mnnected to said trolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley wheels, a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir to a substantially U-shaped spraying nozzle disposed about said line, one of the perpendicularly disposed legs of the spraying nozzle being 5. In apparatus for applying a protective coat ing to suspend cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheelsadapted 76 to be propelled along the line by a power plant 7 pivotally connected tothe yoke of the nozzle so as to be adapted to be forced-from its normal perpendicular position when said leg frictlonally connected to said trolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley wheels, a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir, a spraying nozzle disposed about cable line and being pivotally connected in said conductor line so as to be forced about its pivotal point and out of its normal path of travel along the cable line when the nozzle frictionally engages and is passing an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the cable line.

6. Apparatus for applying protective coating material to an elongated pole supported member and embodying therein a frame structure having upper and lower portions, trolley wheels carried by the upper portion of the frame structure and adapted for propelled engagement with said member, means providing a telescopic connection between the upper and lower portions of said frame structure, means carried by the upper portion of the frame structure for spraying coating material toward said member, a coating material reservoir carried by one portion of said frame structure, a conduit for delivering coating material from said reservoir to said spraying means, power means carried by said lower portion of the frame structure, and means connecting said power means and said trolley wheels and operative to transmit power therebetween in several relatively telescoped positions of said upper and lower portions of said frame structure.

. 7. Apparatus for applying protective coating material to an elongated pole supported member and embodying therein a frame structure having upper and lower portions, trolley wheels carried by the upper portion of the frame structure and adapted for propelled engagement with said member, said lower portion of the frame structure including upper and lower telescopically connected parts, means carried by the upper portion of the frame structure for spraying coating material toward said member, a coating material reservoir carried by one portion of said frame structure, a conduit for delivering coating material from said reservoir to said spraying means, power means carried by said lower part of said lower portion of the frame structure, and means connecting said power means and said trolley wheels and operating to transmit power there between in several relatively telescoped positions of said upper and lower parts of said lower portion of the frame structure.

8. Apparatus for applying protective coating material to an elongated pole supported member and embodying therein a frame structure having upper and lower portions, trolley wheels carried by the upper portion of the frame structure and adapted for propelled engagement with said member, means providing a telescopic connection between the upper and lower portions of said frame structure, means carried by the upper portion of the frame structure for spraying coating material toward said member, a driven member having an axis disposed transversely of the upper portion of the frame structure, means for transmitting power from said driven member to one of said trolley wheels, a coating. material reservoir carried by said frame structure, a conduit for delivering coating material from said reservoir to said spraying means, a power means carried by the lower portion of the frame structure, and means connecting said power means and said driven member to transmit power thereto in several relatively telescoped positions of said upper and lower portions of the frame structure.

9. Apparatus for applying protective coating material to an elongated pole supported member and embodying therein a frame structure having upper and lower portions, trolley wheels carried by the upper portion of the frame structure and adapted for propelled engagement with said member, means providing a telescopic connection between said upper and lower portions of said frame structure, means carried by the upper portion of the frame structure for spraying coating material toward said member, a coating material reservoir carried by one of said portions of said frame structure, a conduit for delivering coating material from said reservoir to said spraying means, power means carried by said lower portion of the frame structure, and means including a telescopic shaft for driving one of said trolley wheels from said power means.

10. Appparatus for applying protective coating material to an elongated pole supported member and embodying therein a frame structure having upper and lower portions, trolley wheels carried by the upper portion of the frame structure and adapted for propelled engagement with said member, means providing a pivotal connection between the upper and lower portions of the frame structure and whereby said lower portion may be swung in a plane parallel to that of the said member about said means as an axis, a driven member arranged coaxially with said means, means providing a driving connection between said driven member and one of said trolley wheels, means providing a telescopic connection between the upper and lower parts of said lower portion JOSEPH R. MCMAHON. ELWOOD C. SPRINGFIELD. 

